The Week.

omit it would be to open tbe door to the creation of fagot votes . A long and interesting discussion ensued , several members below the gangway objecting to the withdrawal . Eventually there was a division , and tho section of the clause was withdrawn by 361 votes to 71 . Mr . Bright and several other members left the House before the division . After some further discussion the clauses as amended were agreed to .

Progress was then reported , and the bill was fixed for the 25 th inst . On the 15 th inst ., in reply to Mr . A . Grant , the Chancellor of the Exchequer said that if the directors of the Bank of England reduced the rate of discount below 10 per cent ., the undertaking entered into with them by the Government in reference to the issue of notes would cease . —Sir G .

Bowyer complained that the arrangement of the House was bad , and that insufficient accommodation was provided for members . He wanted to know if anything could be done to remedy it . Mr . Cowper replied that the House answered its purpose very well . Mr . Crawford had deprecated raising such , a discussion then , and Mr . Cowper endorsed his complaint .

—Lord Cranborne thought Sir G . Bowyer was right , and that something should be done . The Chancellor of the Exchequer replied , and the matter then dropped . —On the motion to go into committee of supply an interesting discussion took place , initiated by Mr . Barclay , upon the differential duties on sugar . Mr . Barclay contended that the present way of levying the

dnties was unsatisfactory , and hoped it would be modified . Mr . J . B . Smith took a similar view of the matter . The Chancellor of the Exchequer entered at some length into the question , and showed that inquiries were being made as to what improvements could be made in the mode of levying duties on sugar . When those inquiries were complete the whole subject would be brought before the House . Mr . Bright suggested th « t the best

plan would be to get rid of tbe duty altogether . Mr . Ewart proposed that permission be given for a bust of tho late Joseph Hume , presented by his widow , to be placed in the library of the House . In the discussion which followed , the Chancellor of the Exchequer pronounced a warm penegyric on Mr . Hume . Mr . Hadfield and Mr . White regretted that Mr . Hume's merits were not recognised in his lifetime . The motion was agreed to .

After a discussion in reference to the treatment of Fenian prisoners in Limerick gaol , Mr . T . Chambers was making a motion in reference to the Cape Railway , when the House was counted out at ten minutes before eight o ' clock . On the 18 th inst ., in reply to a question , Mr . Cardwell briefly said he had a despatch from Lord Monck , announcing that the Fenian

raid on Canada had been repelled , and that several of the Fenians were in prison . —Ths House went into committee on the Reform Bills . The Chancellor of the Exchequer wished to introduce the discussion on clause 5 , as to tho borough franchise , by a speech . This was objected to , and the right lion , gentleman eventually gave way . Lord Dunkellin then moved

an amendment that tbe franchise bo a rating and not a rcntaj franchise . Mr . S . Cave seconded the amendment . A long discussion ensued , Mr . Bright , Sir H . Cairns , Sir R . Peel , the Solicitor-Genera ] , and Mr . Villievs , being among the speakers-The Chancellor of the Exchequer distinctly announced that if the amendment were carried the Government would not pledge

themselves to accept the defeat or to continue the bill . The House then divided , and the Government were beaten , the numbers being—for the amendment , 314 ; aga ' mst it , 301 . Mr-Gladstone announced that he would state the course of the Government , and progress was reported . The other orders were got through , and the House adjourned at two o ' clock . On the 19 th inst . the House had a morning sitting , at which merely formal business was transacted . In the evening the

House was crowded . As soon as tbe questions had been disposed of , the Chancellor of the Exchequer made a statement which , though it was a little longer than that of Earl Russell , gave no more information as to the intention of the Government . Tho House soon afterwards adjourned . GESEBAII HOME NEWS . -The Registrar General's returns show a slight decrease in the metropolitan mortality of tbe week

ending June 16 , as compared wich the week before , the num . bers being—June 2 , 1 , 540 ; June 9 , 1 , 383 ; and June 16 , 1 , 370 . Tho annual rates of mortality last week per 1 , 000 were—20 in Bristol and Birmingham , 22 in Edinburgh , 23 in London , 25 iu Salford , 27 in Manchester , Dublin , Hull , and Neweastle-on-Tyne ; 28 iu Sheffield and Glasgow , 29 in Leeds , and 34 in

Liverpool . Three deaths from cholera , three from hydrophobia-( the latter a most unusual occurrence ) , aud three from carriage accidents , were registered Inst week . The treatment of the sick poor in Rotherhithe workhouse is the subject , of an inquiry by Mr . Farnall which was commenced on the 15 th inst . A Mrs . Beeton , who was for some time head nurse in the infirmary of

the workhouse , had written to the Poor Law Board describing a fearful state of things as existing in the infirmary , and this inquiry is instituted to examine into the truth of these charges . Mrs . Beeton was examined and made a series of most horrible statements , winch were not shaken on cross-examination . The inquiry was adjourned . Christian Olifius , an old man , and

Ellen Houghton , were tried at the Central Criminal Court for abducting a girl named Tolley . The evidence of the prosecutrix was of a very singular character . . Eventually both tbe prisoners were found guilty . Olifius was sentenced to two months ' imprisonment , and Houghton to a week ' s imprisonment . There was a grand volunteer review and field-day at Panshanger Park on the 16 tli inst . The evolutions were most

successfully performed . The review in Hyde Park on the 23 rd inst . promises to be a fine affair . No less than 15 , 000 volunteers are expected to be present . The Prince of Wales went on the 18 th inst . to Russell Hill , near Caterham Junction , and opened the new building erected there for the Warehousemen and ' Clerks' Schools . The weather way very unpropitious ; but notwithstanding this a large number of visitors attended . The

proceedings were of an interesting character . Subscriptions to the amount of over £ 5 , 000 were announced . Of these more than £ 2 , 000 came from " ladies' purses , " a most admirable invention for obtaining money for good and charitable objects . The Poor-law inquiry in reference to the charges of illtreatment of patients in thellotherhithe Workhouse infirmary

was resumed . Some of the officials who were called contradicted ' parts of the statement of Miss Beeton , at whose instigation the inquiry was ^ coinmenced . Several pauper patients were , however called , and their evidence fully corroborated the charges of cruelty on the part of some of the pauper nurses . The inquiry was again adjourned . At Birmingham and Leicester

the Liberals have held preliminary meetings and resolved unanimously to urge on the Government a dissolution in place of resignation . It is to be hoped this course will be imitated in every town in the kingdom . The inquiry into the treatment of the sick poor in Rotherhithe Workhous - e was continued and concluded on the 19 th inst . Several witnesses were called who

deposed to the geneval kind treatment of the patients in the infirmary . Nothing more definite is known in reference to the course which has been taken by the Ministry . Very little doubt , however , is entertained that they have tendered their resignation to her Majesty . This supposition received some some confirmation on the 20 th inst . by what took place iu the Court of Chancery . A part-heard case was called , and the Lord Chancellor was informed that it would not be finished by th e